Shoe attachment for winter sports



July 26, 1950 T. HUNSBEDT 2,946,599

sHoE ATTACHMENT Foa WINTER sPoRTs Filed Nov. 24, 1958 INVENToR, THEoDoRE HUNS B601;

ATTORNEY.

SHOE A'ITACHlVIENT FOR WINTER SPORTS Theodore Hunsbedt, Briarcliif Manor, N.Y., assigner to Bilwin Co., Inc., Briarclit't Manor, N.Y., a corporation of'New York Filed Nov. `2i, 1915s, ser. No. 17s,so4

z claims. (crm-11.13) l The present invention relates to shoe attachments to enable the wearer to engage in various winter sports.

The principal object of this invention is to provide novel and improved articles of the character mentioned, for use as snow shoes, ice skates, skis and the like.

A further object thereof is to provide novel and irnproved construction for articles of the class set forth, affording easy adjustment for shoe size and which are easy and safe for use even by small children. Straps are provided which are openable so that these articles may be mounted and removed and particularly, there are means for attaching the straps and lfor automatically positioning them to maintain them untwisted and to avoid their slipping along the shoes, when said attachments are 1n use.

Another object thereof is to provide novel and improved shoe yattachments of the kind described, which are simple in construction, reasonable in cost and eicient in carrying out the purposes for which they are designed.

Other objects and advantages will become app-arent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, one form thereof may comprise an elongated sheet metal member of about twice the length and width of the shoe of the average user. Said member may have la perimetral upright flange so that it is in the form of a shallow receptacle whose frontportion is preferably curved upwardly to be convex on lits undersurface. The shoe sets about centrally within and along such member and adjustable straps are provided for attachment to the shoe, one strap across the vamp and the other straddling the back of the shoe and extending upwards across the top of the foot.

In the embodiment illustrated, there is a sheet metal plate welded onto the floor of the receptacle member which is really in the form of what may be deemed a shallow pan. Such floor plate is provided with `a `series of spaced loops or eyes along each lengthwise edge thereof; the loops along one edge being aligned with those along the other edge of saidvplate member. Of importance to note is that the loops for the .forward strap are attened so that their top elements-are horizontal, while the loops for the hind strap are angular to comprise two legs each; the forward legs of such loops being sloped forwardly downwardly.

One belt is laced through one set of opposite forward loops and the second belt is laced through one set of opposite rearward loops, 'as the shoe-size rwill require. The rear belt at center region may be associated with a saddle element to straddle the back of the shoe and serve as a heel stop or heel rmt. One or more runner ribs are formed lengthwise by parallel depressions in the iloor of the pan member.

A detailed description of the illustrated embodiment of this invention will now be given. l

In the accompanying drawing 4forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

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Fig. 1 is a lengthwise view showing a preferred em-` bodiment of this invention. used in pairs.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. l.

This article is of course Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the floorv plate.

Fig. 4 is a section taken at line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows the saddle member which serves as the heel stop and its associated strap which is shown frag-A mentary.

In the drawing, where one `form of this invention is shown, the member designated generally by the numeral 15, is a shallow elongated pan whose iioor wall is depressed to have a centrally downwardly extending keel 16v4 and the upwradly extending longitudinal r-ibs 17. A plate` 18 is welded to or otherwise suitably secured on the floor the rearward loops 21', 22. All said loops may be struck` from the metal of the plate member 1i8 and it is preferred that the plate have semi-circular cut-outs 14. These cut-outs aid the lacing through of the straps, since the end of the strap when passed under and beyond a loop to the arcual edge of 14, will be accessible to be gripped by the fingers and then pulled.

It is evident that the straps 19, 20 may be positioned through 4such sets of loops as is necessary to accommodate shoe size. The wearers shoe sets atop the plate 18 and is between the two lines of loops. Strap encircle` ment is of course adjustable by suitable buckle means 23, 24 respectively. The hind strap 20 at lits central region is provided with a saddle member which in use, straddles the back of the shoe 30 and serves Vas a heel stop. Such saddle member which is denoted by the numeral (25 may be a separate piece of pliable plastic, leather or other suitable material provided with slits to enable its mounting onto the strap 20 as shown, or it may be one piece with or otherwise suitably attached to said strap 20.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it is to be noted that the loops 21, 22 for the forward strapI 19, have their top portions attened to be horizontal as indicated at 28, so as not to cause a twist in the strap they hold. Each loop 21', 22 for the hind strap 20, makes a triangle with the plate 18; said loops being bent so that each has two legs of such triangle it makes with said plate; the forward leg of such format being sloped forwardly downwardly as at 29, in a direction perpendicular to the upward portions of the strap `20 when in use position, so as not to cause a twist in the strap they hold.

To enhance appearance, the side walls 27 of the pan member 15, may taper towards the rear and to avoid sharp edges in motion, -it is preferred that the mouth rim of such pan 15 shall be beaded as at 27'. The pan 15 and its floor plate 18 may be cadmium plated or otherwise coated to be rustproof. Material and dimensions mentioned herein are chosen to suit and are merely suggestive.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential member secured atop the sheet member, to be positioned lengthwise against the underside of a shoe; said sheet member being wider than such shoe and having at least one longitudinal rib extending downwardly therefrom intermediate its longitudinal edges and the forward part of said sheet member being bent upwardly; said plate member being wider than the shoe and spaced `from the edges of the sheet member, a pair of spaced loops formed from the material of said plate member and extending upwardly therefrom at such Ipositions respectively that they receive the rearward portion of the shoe between them, a second pair of spaced loops similarly formed at such positions on the plate member respectively that they receive the forward portion of the shoe between them; the openings of the loops of each said pair, being opposite each other respectively, a saddle having straps extending, one from each side thereof; said saddle being adapted to straddle the back portion of the shoe and serve las a heel stop; each of said `straps being laced through one of the loops which are at the rearward portion of the shoe, means on said straps to releasably secure them together to tightly hold the shoe on the plate member and a belt laced through the loops which are at the forward part of the plate member, having means to releasably secure spaced portions of said belt together to tightly hold the forward part of the shoe on the plate member; said plate having cut-out portions, one at each loop; each cut-out portion being laterally of a loop and extending in the direction of the oppositely associated loop; each of said cut-outs commencing from an edge of the plate member and ending beyond the loop it is at; each cut-out being under a loop and wider than the strap through such loop.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the -rear loops have a portion thereof of a length at least equal to the width of la strap, sloping downwardly towards the toe end of the shoe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i i t 

